The premonitory phase of migraine is due to hypothalamic dysfunction: revisiting the evidence

Objective: To critically appraise the evidence for and against premonitory symptoms in migraine being due to hypothalamic dysfunction. Discussion: Some premonitory symptoms (e.g. fatigue, mood changes, yawning, and food craving) are associated with the physiologic effects of neurotransmitters such as orexins, neuropeptide Y, and dopamine; all of which are expressed in hypothalamic neurons. In rodents, electrophysiologic recordings have shown that these neurotransmitters modulate nociceptive transmission at the level of second-order neurons in the trigeminocervical complex (TCC). Additional insights have been gained from neuroimaging studies that report hypothalamic activation during the premonitory phase of migraine. However, the available evidence is limited by methodologic issues, inconsistent reporting, and a lack of adherence to ICHD definitions of premonitory symptoms (or prodromes) in human experimental studies. Conclusions: The current trend to accept that premonitory symptoms are due to hypothalamic dysfunction might be premature. More rigorously designed studies are needed to ascertain whether the neurobiologic basis of premonitory symptoms is due to hypothalamic dysfunction or rather reflects modulatory input to the trigeminovascular system from several cortical and subcortical areas. On a final note, the available epidemiologic data raises questions as to whether the existence of premonitory symptoms and even more so a distinct premonitory phase is a true migraine phenomenon.

Automated summary

This article critically appraises the evidence for and against premonitory symptoms in migraine being due to hypothalamic dysfunction. While there are some physiological effects and neuroimaging results associated with premonitory symptoms, the available evidence is limited by methodologic issues and inconsistent definitions. Therefore, whether to attribute premonitory symptoms to hypothalamic dysfunction requires more rigorously designed studies to determine.